Joint Sandburn Masters Yorkshire PGA win for James Drinkall (From York Press)

Joint Sandburn Masters Yorkshire PGA win for James Drinkall

11:42am Saturday 1st September 2012 in Sport

GOLF’S axiom “the swing’s the thing” was never more apt than when James Drinkall defied atrocious conditions to lift the Sandburn Masters Yorkshire PGA trophy.

So bad was this week’s torrential rain that the tournament was reduced from its customary 36 holes to 18, while the pro-am on the following day was completely washed out.

But for Drinkall it was swinging in the rain as the Allerthorpe Park GC head professional shared the Sandburn Masters title with Adrian Ambler from Low Laithes GC.

Both defied lashing rain and strong winds to post two-under-par totals of 70, a shot clear of their three nearest challengers.

And rather than go for a play-off Drinkall explained that he and Yorkshire PGA tour mainstay Ambler opted to share the trophy and “split the pot”.

For Drinkall, who praised the Sandburn Hall course for standing up extremely well to the conditions, the victory vindicated his decision to re-hone his swing with some coaching sessions.

“For the early part of the season I felt just a little bit off from the tee,” said Drinkall.

“I just wanted my swing tidying up and to get the tempo right. It is now paying dividends and the last few weeks have certainly been far more enjoyable.”

Just before his Sandburn Masters win, which yielded him and Ambler 180 points towards the Yorkshire Order of Merit, Drinkall was fifth in the Leeds Cup.

“I usually have a strong finish to the season so I am hoping that this good form will carry me through to improve my Yorkshire Order of Merit placing,” added Drinkall.

Meanwhile, the Sandburn Masters pro-am will now be re-scheduled, said Sandburn Hall clubhouse manager Emma Brown. “It was such a blow to have the championship reduced to 18 holes and also to have to cancel the pro-am, but the Yorkshire PGA have agreed to host the pro-am back at Sandburn Hall in the spring,” said Brown.